Saddle



B. P. BLOOD.

(No Model.)

SADDLE.

Patented Mar. 1, 1892.

fitt r" a] '40., wnsMlNcTon n c NITED STATES PATENT F F ICEQ SAD D LE.

SPZECIFlIGATlIOl\ forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,957, datedMarch 1, 1892.

' Application filed August 13, 1891. Serial No. 402,592. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN PAUL BLOOD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Amsterdam, in the county of Montgomery and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Saddles for Horse-Riding, of which the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made by letter,Figurel is a perspective view of a riding saddle with my improvementsapplied. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a stirrup and a portion of thestirrupstrap with a foot in the stirrup, and Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview of a modification of the stirrup and portion of the strap.

The principle utilized in my device is the stilfening of thestirrup-straps and thereby affording an upward resistance and a clutchto the riders foot, thus making the stirrup and its hanger, which haveserved heretofore only as preventing the foot from descending, eifectualin also preventing it from flying upward to his disadvantage and danger.From the saddle as I construct it a tolerable rider can hardly bedismounted, the reach and the general efficiency of the cavalry soldierare greatly increased, and for the lady or gentleman rider the joltingof the person is eased by a better distribution of the stress over themuscular system.

In Fig. l the hanger cl is made of two pieces of spring-steel slottedfor a setscrew by which its length may be graduated. It is suspendedfrom a pivot 9 under the lapel of the saddle and terminates in a swivele at its lower end. The stirrup proper depends from this swivel, thefront of which projects about two and one-half inches, with a breadth ofabout three inches, in a shape and direction conforming to the ridersfoot' at the instep, as shown at a. The bottom or floor of the stirrup brocksupon a pivot at its middle and is meant to extend to and resist theriders heel at its rear end and at the forward end to support the ballof the foot and upon the deflection of the heel to clutch the footbetween itself and the projection over the instep, described before, inthe region of the base of the toes. On the skirt of the saddle, at thenether angle of the riders knee, is a triangular puff c, on which hisleg may bear, as on a fulcrum, when he would ease his seat or when forany purpose he would rise in the saddle. With his foot firmly clutchedin the stirrup by the deflection of his heel, his instep repressed bythe projection a, and his weight balanced by the leverage of the legover the puff c the swordsman will instantly appreciate the gymnasticadvantages of his equipment.

Fig. 2 shows the stirrup practically with the foot in its clutch, with achain lanyard or checkf attached to the swivel. This chain is moreespecially for a ladys side-saddle, to be hitched to the girth under thehorses brisket, to prevent the foots vaulting too far or flying outwardunduly. For the same purpose the hanger (1 may have play in aslottedclamp on the saddle-skirt. For certain violent exercises the chain fmayadvantageously connect the two stirrups under the horses belly.

Fig. 3 shows a simpler and more radical application of my principle ofupward resistance in stirrups, the floor of the stirrup beingconsiderably extended fore and aft to afford leverage, the top of itbeing more simply swiveled in the heel of the hanger d, as seen at t inthe drawings, and the projection a (which I assume as identical for mypurpose with a in Fig. 1) effected by expanding the hanger d at thebottom and bending it forward and downward in conformity with the instepof the foot.

The whole stirrup may be covered with leather in the usual manner, andthe hangers being colored in imitation of leather nothing extraordinaryin the appearance of my saddle need detract from public admiration of myriders grace and efficiency, and experience will prove that from theclutch of this powerful stirrup the foot may be more readily and surelywithdrawn than from any stirrup-pendent' from a pliable and upwardlyunresisting strap.

While I have illustrated the two sections of the stirrup-strap as adjustably connected by means of a set-screw, yet it is obvious that othermeans might be employed for instance, the lower section may carry a studand the upper section a series of holes to receive said stud, and saidupper section be provided with an eye or loop to guide and receive thelower section, or a clamp of any suitable means might be employed.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination, witha riding-saddle, of stirrup-straps composed of metal or nonflexiblematerial, puffs 011 the skirts of the saddle at points to bear againstthe leg below the knee, and a stirrup swiveled to the straps and adaptedto bear at one end against the heel and the other end arranged to extendunder the ball of the foot, substantially as specified.

2. Ariding-saddle constructed to afford upward resistance to the riderand having in combination stirrup-straps composed of metal or the like,stirrups swiveled to the lower end of said straps and having a floor orbearing which extends rearwardly to the heel of the rider and forwardlybeneath the ball of the foot, and a stop adapted to bear on the instep,substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with a riding-saddle, of stirrup-straps composed ofmetal or nonfiexible material, pulfs on the skirts of the saddle atpoints to bear against the leg below the knee, and a stop adapted tobear on the instep, substantially as specified.

BENJ. PAUL BLOOD.

Witnesses:

H. A. BLOOD, JOHN P. BLOOD.

